Ostęp Leokadia (Siwek); Siwek Karol

Siwek, Karol Ostęp-Siwek, Leokadia In 1942, on the eve of the liquidation of the Jews of Kock, in the county of Łuków, in the Lublin district, Karol Siwek, a farmer who lived in the village of Tarkawica, in the county of Lubartów (Lublin district), turned up unexpectedly on Sara Zygielman’s doorstep. Siwek had come as a family friend to warn Zygielman of the impending Aktion, and offered to hide a member of her family in his home. At the time, only her son and daughter, Malka, remained with her, and it was decided that Sara Zygielman should move into Siwek’s home. A few days later, Siwek went to Kock and brought Zygielman back, hidden in his wagon. Zygielman’s son moved to Warsaw, while her daughter, Malka, remained in Kock. When the Germans began rounding up the remaining Jews of Kock in preparation for the Aktion, Malka fled to the Siweks’ home, and asked him to shelter her, too. Siwek was taken aback, having specified from the start that he could hide only one member of the family. Nevertheless, despite the difficulties, and the danger of Germans raids in the village, Siwek agreed to shelter Malka, too. Siwek’s fear of informers was such that he did not even let his relatives into the secret. Leokadia, his eldest daughter, who was still at school, looked after the refugees, brought them food each day, and acted as a contact between them and the outside world. Despite their straitened circumstances, the Siweks sheltered Zygielman and her daughter for about two years, until the liberation. Guided by humanitarian considerations, they saw to all their needs without ever asking for anything in return. After the liberation, Sara Zygielman and her daughter returned to Kock, but a few days later, had to flee, due to attacks by antisemitic nationalist Poles. The two immigrated to Israel where, for many years after the war, they kept up ties with their saviors, and did all they could to help them materially. On September 13, 1995, Yad Vashem recognized KarolSiwek and his daughter, Leokadia Ostęp-Siwek, as Righteous Among the Nations.